NO LOADS ON OUR LAND: The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission has joined the growing chorus of official Native opposition to the transportation of mega-loads bearing equipment bound for the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, through Nez Perce and other tribal territories.

VOTING ISSUES: Two major organizations—the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association and the American Civil Liberties Union—have supported a federal civil-rights complaint filed by voting-advocacy group Four Directions on behalf of three South Dakota tribes.

CHANGE ON THE AIRWAVES: The "Change the Mascot" campaign launched by the Oneida Indian Nation is running a new radio advertisement in cities where the Washington Redskins will be playing football games this season.

PUSHBACK: Indian Health Service (IHS) officials are pushing back against tribal concerns over an Obama administration plan that would cut contract support cost (CSC) reimbursements to tribes as part of the federal budget’s continuing resolution currently being considered by Congress.

LAY OFF MY MOM: Amid the Oklahoma State football scandal, which was brought on by an article in Sports Illustrated accusing the program of widespread wrongdoing, Native actress Kimberly Norris Guerrero spoke to ICTMN to defend her late mother, who was mantioned in the article.